Newly retired Wausau officer reflects on 33-year career

7:15 PM,
Apr. 20, 2014

Jim Wadinski sits with a model train display April 6 at the Marathon County Historical Society Museum in Wausau. Now retired from the Wausau Police Department, he will have more time to spend on his hobby.

Written by

Shereen Siewert
Daily Herald Media

After spending the past 33 years as a police officer, Jim Wadinski will finally have time to devote to his two favorite hobbies - model trains and motorcycles.

"It's trains in the winter and motorcycles in the summer," said Wadinski, who retired in February as a lieutenant with the Wausau Police Department.

Chief Jeff Hardel said Wadinski, one of the most well-known faces in the department, will be greatly missed. Wadinski was Officer Friendly for many years, supervising the Wausau Schools Safety Patrol, conducting safety seminars and making regular visits to elementary schools. ...